HQI vs ADP vs PAYX vs PAYC

For growth investors, Paycom Software, Inc.

(PAYC) is the stronger pick with 8. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 7% for HireQuest, Inc. (HQI). Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) offers the better valuation at 17. 1x trailing P/E (13. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) a "Buy" — based on 3 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Paycom Software, Inc.

(PAYC) is the cheapest at 17. 1x versus HireQuest, Inc. at 47. 0x. On forward P/E, Paycom Software, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Paycom Software, Inc. wins at 0. 49x versus Paychex, Inc. 's 2. 01x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

(ADP) delivered a total return of +23. 3%, compared to -56. 3% for Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PAYC returned +271. 8% versus PAYX's +135. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

(ADP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 37β versus HireQuest, Inc. 's 1. 05β — meaning HQI is approximately 181% more volatile than ADP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 146% for Automatic Data Processing, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Paycom Software, Inc.

(PAYC) is pulling ahead at 8. 9% versus -8. 7% for HireQuest, Inc. (HQI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Automatic Data Processing, Inc. grew EPS 9. 7% year-over-year, compared to -40. 9% for HireQuest, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HQI leads at 15. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Paychex, Inc.

(PAYX) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 7% net margin versus 10. 6% for HireQuest, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PAYX leads at 39. 6% versus 12. 6% for HQI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HQI leads at 100. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 49x versus Paychex, Inc. 's 2. 01x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) trades at 13. 2x forward P/E versus 22. 6x for HireQuest, Inc. — 9. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HQI: 22. 7% to $15. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) offers the highest yield at 4. 2%, versus 1. 1% for Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

(ADP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 37), 2. 7% yield, +192. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ADP: +192. 5%, HQI: +140. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (HQI (Industrials) and ADP (Industrials) and PAYX (Industrials) and PAYC (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HQI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ADP is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PAYX is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; PAYC is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.